2010-09-12

Kenya to get Mobile Number Portability

According to the Communications Commission of Kenya, mobile number portability (MNP) was to be introduced in that country in July 2010 and I sincerely hope it is a success for consumers in that lovely country, especially after a frustrating 30 minutes spent trying to port my prepaid number at Menlyn in Pretoria today. The highlight was being informed by one of the official Vodacom outlets that porting can only be done on weekdays, 8am to 5pm! Kenya's version of our subscriber-registration diktat (RICA), which caused some of my problems this morning, seems a bit more rational. According to Safaricom's website, post-paid contract customers do not need to do anything (since, logically, Safaricom already has their details) and students may use a student card to register. A once-off fee, presumably regulated, of around R18 is to be charged for porting in Kenya. Haba na haba, hujaza kibaba.